New to boating, quick question..

[daveac]

My friend and I have just bought a small second hand boat for fishing purposes. We plan on using it in sea inlets and close to the shore. Can we just take it to the water ourselves and away we go? We have life jackets, do we need a boat licence etc or some form of test ?

[Croc]

Originally Posted by daveac

My friend and I have just bought a small second hand boat for fishing purposes. We plan on using it in sea inlets and close to the shore. Can we just take it to the water ourselves and away we go? We have life jackets, do we need a boat licence etc or some form of test ?

No you do not need a license for pleasure purposes, but you may need a fishing license for some rivers and lakes.

If the boat is under 7 meters you have to wear a life jacket by law, if over 7 meters they have to be provided, but in the interest of safety i would recommend you wear them all the time

[Ferris]

Originally Posted by daveac

My friend and I have just bought a small second hand boat for fishing purposes. We plan on using it in sea inlets and close to the shore. Can we just take it to the water ourselves and away we go? We have life jackets, do we need a boat licence etc or some form of test ?

If you have no experience it might be worth doing an ISA National Powerboat Cert, they'll show you how to get on the water safely.

If you don't do that you'll need the following:

- Anchor + weighted warp
- Lifejackets for everyone on board
- VHF Radio + licence, far better than a cell phone.
- Spare fuel
- Spare oil
- Spare water
- Wet weather gear + warm clothing
- Spare rope (towline)
- Spare fuel filter
- Weather forcast
- Charts and a GPS and the sense to use them
- Try and pick up some local knowledge for the area you're fishing

Hope I haven't forgotten anything.

Oh and make sure the engine is serviced.

[guy5]

I would suggest you make sure you have a set of oars on board, just in case your engine gives way.
You dont want to be left there drifting.

[Lobster]

Originally Posted by Ferris

If you have no experience it might be worth doing an ISA National Powerboat Cert, they'll show you how to get on the water safely.

If you don't do that you'll need the following:

- Anchor + weighted warp
- Lifejackets for everyone on board
- VHF Radio + licence, far better than a cell phone.
- Spare fuel
- Spare oil
- Spare water
- Wet weather gear + warm clothing
- Spare rope (towline)
- Spare fuel filter
- Weather forcast
- Charts and a GPS and the sense to use them
- Try and pick up some local knowledge for the area you're fishing

Hope I haven't forgotten anything.

Oh and make sure the engine is serviced.

This is good advice

[Ferris]

Originally Posted by Lobster

This is good advice

Shoulda remembered oars or a paddle...doh

[mathew]

would deff advise a National Power Boat Cert..

If not.. the advice from Ferris is very good.

A VHF is much more reliable than a mobile phone.. but it requires a licence.. both for the ship and the operator.

[Lobster]

Or better still a little backup engine if you can, I have a 2.5hp along with the paddles. If this is new to you, do the course. You have a lot to learn. Get familiar with tide tables also

[daveac]

Originally Posted by Ferris

If you have no experience it might be worth doing an ISA National Powerboat Cert, they'll show you how to get on the water safely.

If you don't do that you'll need the following:

- Anchor + weighted warp
- Lifejackets for everyone on board
- VHF Radio + licence, far better than a cell phone.
- Spare fuel
- Spare oil
- Spare water
- Wet weather gear + warm clothing
- Spare rope (towline)
- Spare fuel filter
- Weather forcast
- Charts and a GPS and the sense to use them
- Try and pick up some local knowledge for the area you're fishing

Hope I haven't forgotten anything.

Oh and make sure the engine is serviced.

Thanks for the tips, this is a good list cheers!

[Cheeble]

Originally Posted by Ferris

...Hope I haven't forgotten anything...

Inshore flare pack
Emergency knife
Compass
Small selection of tools
Spare kill-switch cord
String bag (for cooling the beers - use sensibly )

Cheeble-eers

[Lobster]

And maybe a bigger boat to carry all this!

[hitman_]

Originally Posted by mathew

would deff advise a National Power Boat Cert..

If not.. the advice from Ferris is very good.

A VHF is much more reliable than a mobile phone.. but it requires a licence.. both for the ship and the operator.

Where can I get more info on this, I have an old VHF transciever, did'nt know the boat needed a licence as well. Thanks.